George Pearse1
#20282, (c 1816 - 1902)
Life Events | |
| Birth | George Pearse was born circa 1816 in Hackney, Middlesex.2,3 |
| 1861 Census | He appeared on the 1861 Census of Paddington, Middlesex, at 13 Upper Westbourne Terrace. He was age 45, a Member of the Stock Exchange, born in Hackney, Middlesex. With him were his wife Charlotte, stepdaughter Edith Stephens, son Whitmore Pearse, a visitor, house servant, a footman, and a lady's maid.2 |
| Marriage | He married Jane Bonnycastle, daughter of Humphrey Bonnycastle and Jane Cottrell, on 14 Mar 1866 in the Register Office, St Luke RD, Middlesex. Information from certificate: George Pearse, 50, widower, Stock Dealer, residence 8 South Street, Finsbury, father Peter Pearse (Decd), Gentleman; Jane Bonnycastle, 32, Spinster, residence 1 South Place Finsbury, father John Humphrey Bonnycastle (Decd) Gentleman; Married by the Registrar and the witnesses were Catherine Quarrell and Mary Eleanor Bonnycastle.1 |
| Photograph | 4 George & Jane Pearse Source: Arab World Ministries |
| Note. | In the year 1876 when Algeria was colonised by the French, a couple named George and Jane Pearse felt called to reach the occupying troops of this land, and so set off to fulfil this ‘calling’. On the first night of their stay, Jane looked down from the hotel window to see what appeared to be a pile of rags lying on the street. On closer inspection a Kabyle man with another lying close by. As it was late, the couple decided to leave further investigations until morning, but when that time came were heartbroken to discover that the two Kabyle men had died of starvation that very night. The result of this discovery was that the Pearses became burdened with a desire to reach the people of Algeria. They soon returned to England and, sharing their story with Dr H. Grattan Guinness, were encouraged to spearhead a mission and were even given their first donation of £100! Continued encouragement from others eventually led to the formation of ‘the Mission to the Kabyles and Other Berber Races’. And a small group, including Pearse (then aged 65) and a man named Edward Glenny, who would later become leader of the mission, arrived to set up the first mission station in the village Djemma Sahridj. So began what would later be known as ‘North Africa Mission’ and is today ‘Arab World Ministries’. As they returned home and shared all they had experienced, they were encouraged by Dr. & Mrs. H. Grattan Guinness to spearhead a mission – and received their first contribution of £100. Later to join them in the task would be Edward Glenny, who formed a part of the first group going out to an Algerian village named Djemma Sahridj. For the first few years of its existence AWM was called ‘The Mission to the Kabyles and other Berber Races’ before adopting the more memorable name ‘North Africa Mission’.5 |
| 1901 Census | George and Jane Pearse appeared on the 1901 Census of Hove, Sussex, at 171 Church Road, enumerated 31 Mar 1901. George was 85, a Retired Stockbroker, and was born in Hackney, Middlesex. Jane was 70 and born in London. They occupied 3 rooms.3 |
| Death | George died in 1902.6,7 |
| Last Edited | 24 Jan 2022 |
Citations
- Copy marriage certificate of George Pearse and Jane Bonnycastle, married 14 March 1866 in the Registration District of St Luke, transcribed by John Gould.
- 1861 Census for England & Wales, RG9/6 folio 19 page 42.
- 1901 Census for England & Wales, RG13/937 folio 8.
- Online, http://awm.gospelcom.net/int/article.php?pageid=229
- Online, http://awm.gospelcom.net/int/article.php?pageid=23
- Online, google search.
- FreeBMD. George Pearse, age 87, Sep Q 1902, Hastings RD.